The Russellville Democrat., 1887-06-01
THE VACANT CHAIR.

MT. Garland Defines His Posi-
 ton as to the Supreme Court
 Vacancy.
 WASHINGTON, May 25.--Attorney General Garland to day talked freely with representative of the Associ- ated Press concerning his supposed candidacy for the vacant position on the supreme bench. After saying, "I do not want the place, and would not take it if offered me-" Mr. Gar land set forth his reasons as fol lows: Il do not" said he, "underval : ue the place. It has work and res. possibility enough to test the energy and ability of any one and honor sufficient for the most ambitious. When the last two appointments for the supreme court were made my name was conspicuonsly mentioned by persons of both parties for lse se- lection. At that tune would read fly have accepted such position and did not hesitate to say so, but was younger by several years and my health was much better then than now. Then there was period of twenty years between my age and thas fixed for retiring, and my health was unimpaired. Now that period is only fifteen years, and my constitu- ton is worn and enfeebled by severe attacks of sickness that came upon me in March, 1886. The duties of the office of justice of the supreme court are so important and exacting that feel it due; the pubic service that as general rule, other things being equal, one who enters upon their performance should have a fair and reasonable prospect of twenty years of active, unbroken labor be- fore reaching the age named by law for retiring, for work done in that court lasts for all years to come and goes far to mould and fashion our institutions. Make and execute the lsws as we may, could not even indulge the hope of having a period of fifteen years allowed me for con- tinuous hard work, and I would be untrue to duty to accept such a-trust with this fact staring me Tn the face. Besides, some months after the two appointments referred to were made, 1 was elected by the legislature of Arkansas to the United States sen ate for second time and I framed resolution to retire from public life and public place at the end of that term, which will expire with the closing of this administration and I have so shaped my affairs as to car ry out this resolution, winch becomes more important to me as time ap. breaches. This resolution some six months since repeated substantial ly to my friends in Arkansas by let ter that was published, touching my running again for the United States senate. l will say that the entire Arkansas representation has known for nearly or quite two years past of this determination on my part, as we'll as some few other particular personal friends of mine."
 "May l ask yoa then if the presl- dent knows of this"
 "Yes, generally and particularly; for he has heard me say fatly more than 8 year since that 1 wanted and would have no other public place af ter this; and on the 23d of February last he asked me to take place on the interstate commerce commission, which 1 declined, repeating positive ly this determination on my part that 1 wanted and would have no public office after this, and particularly, as soon as I could decently do so, (the day after Justice Woods was bur ried) l told him my name was being used in this connection, and I waat- ed at once to say that did not wish the place and would not have It, and repeated again my resolutions as to public office, and 1 wished him to proceed to the consideration of the question as if he had never heard of me-"
 "Then, as you are out of the mat ter, who, If may inquire, will get it?"
 "I have not the remotest idea"
 ''Do you know when the appoint ment will be nader
 "I do not, as 1 have had no talk with the president about it beyond making to him my statement as al ready referred to, with the reasons therefor, which have given you"